Living in a Siheyuan

In the space, Li Pingan put the money back into the drawer. After leaving the space, he lay on the bed and thought.

I will never lack money in the future. I never thought that I, who was a pauper in my previous life, would achieve financial freedom in this era without much effort. This is a life full of cheats!

I have a stable job now, and it seems that all I need is a wife. Otherwise, I will be too lonely.

Thinking of his wife, he also thought of decorating his own house. It doesn't matter if he is alone, he can take a shower and eat in the space. He also goes to the toilet in the space. But he can't do that with a wife. For the sake of the future, Li Pingan decided to ask someone about decorating the house tomorrow.

Li Pingan fell asleep thinking about his wife. He had a sleepless night. He has been single for two lifetimes!

I quickly went into the space to wash and clean up. I came out to have breakfast. It was already past nine o'clock. Li Ping'an wanted to go to the street office to see if Director Wang was at work and ask about the decoration.

Arriving at the subdistrict office, although there were not many people working today, Director Wang was there.

I went straight to Director Wang's office, knocked on the door, and called out to Director Wang, "Auntie Wang, don't you have a day off on Sunday?"

When Director Wang saw that it was Li Ping'an, he asked, "Why are you here, Ping'an? How is it working in the steel mill? Can you get used to it?"

Facing Director Wang's series of questions, Li Pingan quickly replied, "Very good, Aunt Wang. I just went there this week and completed the task. Our deputy section chief even said that he would make me a regular employee ahead of schedule."

"That's good, but you also have to pay attention to safety. Especially don't go too far or to remote places." Director Wang said with concern.

Li Pingan had no choice but to reply: "Don't worry, Aunt Wang. I have connections with my classmates, so I don't need to run around."

Director Wang nodded and said, "What brings you here today?"

Li Pingan sat down and said seriously: "Auntie Wang, you know my house. The lighting is not good, and there is not much ventilation. The house has not been repaired for many years, and some of the wood inside is rotten. I want to renovate the house well this time, so that it will be more comfortable to live in."

Director Wang thought for a moment and said, "It's time to clean up. You should find a wife next year, and the house won't be livable if you have children. How do you want to renovate it?"

Li Pingan expressed his thoughts last night: "Aunt Wang, I want to make a partition between the two rooms. The room my parents use will be the master bedroom in the future, and now I want to make a small room in the living room to store things. I'll open a bigger window on the back wall. There will be about 20 square meters outside to be used as a living room and dining room. Then I'll build two new houses next to the courtyard wall, one for the kitchen and one for the bathroom. Do you think this will work?"

Director Wang thought about it and said, "You can renovate your own house, but if you want to build two more rooms, it's a bit against the rules. But your house has a title deed and is a private house. It's in a corner and has its own door and yard, so it won't affect other residents. It shouldn't be a big problem. You should also tell your neighbors when the time comes so that they don't come to complain about you."

Li Ping'an felt relieved after hearing this, but he was afraid that if regulations did not allow adding more buildings at will, that would be the end of it.

So he said, "Auntie Wang, I want to connect tap water to my home, so it will be more convenient. Do you know what procedures are required?"

"This needs to be reported to the water management company. There will be people installing it there. You can go and ask them when the time comes," said Director Wang.

"Auntie Wang, do you know any good craftsmen around here? You know I don't know much about these things." Li Pingan said again.

This time, Director Wang said directly: "We have a construction team under our street office. They usually repair old houses for the street office. I guess they are not at work today. I'll give you an address for you to go over and have a look. This man's surname is Yu. He is an old craftsman with excellent skills." Director Wang also wrote an address to Li Ping'an.

Li Pingan took the address and said to Director Wang, "Okay, I'll go over and take a look, and then go to the Zailai Water Company to ask."

Director Wang found a form in the cabinet and said to Li Pingan, "Fill out this registration form and make a report. I will also issue you a certificate, which you will need to buy the materials."

After completing the formalities at the street office and holding the certificate, Li Pingan went to find Master Yu according to the address written by Director Wang. He soon found the courtyard of Master Yu's house in a nearby alley.

When we got to the door, a woman in her 50s asked, "Young man, you are not from our compound, right? Who are you looking for?"

Li Pingan knew that people nowadays were very wary of strangers, so he replied, "Auntie, is Master Yu's house here? I'm here to ask him to repair my house."

When the aunt heard that they were looking for Master Yu, she said, "It's here. If you go into the right wing, that's their house."

Li Ping'an entered the compound, which was a quadrangle with two entrances, much smaller than theirs.

At the door of the right wing, there was a woman in her forties cleaning. Li Pingan went up to her and asked, "Hello, woman. Is this where Master Yu lives?"

The old lady turned around, looked at Li Ping'an and said, "You're looking for my old Yu. He's at home." Then she shouted into the house, "Master, someone's looking for you."

Hearing the shout, an old man in his fifties came out of the house and asked Li Pingan when he saw him, "Hello, comrade. I am Yu Linhai. What can I do for you?"

Li Pingan also stepped forward and said, "Hello, Master Yu, I was introduced by Director Wang to come to you to renovate the house."

When Yu Linhai heard that there was a job coming, he enthusiastically invited Li Pingan in. Now they are listed under the street office, but they don't get paid. There is money only when there is work. He hasn't received any work for a while.

After entering the house, Yu Linhai asked, "Comrade, where is your house? How do you want to renovate it?"

Li Pingan also said politely: "Master Yu, my name is Li Pingan, you can just call me Pingan. The house is in Nanluoguxiang, let's go over and take a look at the specific decoration and then talk about it in detail, okay?"

Yu Linhai said after hearing this: "Alright, wait a moment, I'll bring the tools and we'll go over now."

After saying that, Yu Linhai went into the house and came out carrying a tool bag.

Li Pingan rode his bike back to the courtyard with Yu Linhai. At the door, they met the three aunts who were enjoying the cool air. The three aunts saw Li Pingan with a stranger and asked, "Pingan is back, who is this person?"

"Auntie, these are from the renovation team at the street office. I brought them back to renovate my house." After Li Ping'an said this, he pushed the cart inside.

When Auntie No. 3 heard that they were people who were renovating the house, and that they were from the street office, she didn't say anything. It was estimated that everyone in the compound would know that Li Ping'an was going to renovate the house soon.

After entering his own courtyard, Li Pingan took Yu Linhai into the house and said, "Master Yu, look at the two rooms. Replace the rotten wood on top and use wooden boards to hang the ceiling. The house will be cleaner. This room inside is the master bedroom. Open a larger window in the front and back. The one in the back should be opened higher."

Then he went to the living room and said, "This house is divided in the middle. There is a small room in the back, and the front continues to be used as a living room. The front and back windows should also be opened wider. Do you think it's okay?"

Yu Linhai walked around the two rooms, looked at the roof and said, "Okay, I'll raise the roof a little higher and open two small windows on it so that it can be ventilated and insulate. I'll make the floor concrete for you so it's easier to clean."

Li Pingan agreed immediately after hearing this, after all, he was a professional.

After going out and pointing at the wall behind, Li Ping'an continued, "Master Yu, I want to build two more rooms against this wall next to the living room. One will be used as a kitchen and the other as a bathroom." As he spoke, he gestured towards the wall.

After Lin Hai finished measuring the space, he said, "Master Yu, I want to connect the tap water to the kitchen and bathroom. Can the bathroom be a flush toilet?"

Yu Linhai looked around, then went out for a walk and came back. He said to Li Pingan, "There is basically no problem with what you said. There is a sewage pipe behind the wall. It's just that the flush toilet is hard to find. And if you want to get tap water, you have to go to the water company. But if you are busy, I can do it for you. I deal with them often, it's not difficult."

Hearing that Yu Linhai had connections, Li Pingan was of course willing. The two discussed some details for a long time, and saw that their requirements were basically met. In some places, Yu Linhai even made some modifications to make them more reasonable. Li Pingan said, "Master Yu, how long do you think it will take to complete the work? And how much will it cost?"

Yu Linhai calculated on the notebook and said, "Ping An, you have to make a lot of changes here, and you have to add two more rooms. It will take about half a month to complete. We need at least six people to take care of the labor, and sometimes we have to find odd jobs to help. I'll give you 100 yuan, and you'll get a meal at noon. I won't mention you buying the materials yourself, if we buy them it will cost 200 yuan. This doesn't include the toilet you mentioned, it's hard to find now."

After listening to Yu Linhai's offer, Li Pingan said, "Master Yu, you see, I am the only one in my family, so I won't take care of lunch. I'll give you an extra 30 yuan. You also have to buy the materials. I'll give you a total of 330 yuan. As for the toilet, I'll think of a way. Is that ok?"

Yu Linhai thought about it and agreed, saying to Li Pingan, "Okay, this will save trouble. I'll borrow your kitchen and we'll bring some dry food to cook lunch. I'll also contact the water company for you, and you can pay them the fees. I can bring people to demolish the house and buy materials tomorrow."

After the two of them agreed, Li Ping'an gave Yu Linhai 200 yuan to buy materials, and would pay the rest after the decoration was completed.

After finalizing the renovation, Li Pingan went to the supply and marketing cooperative outside to buy a few kilograms of White Rabbit milk candy and took out a net bag of apples from the space. He planned to distribute some door to door in the evening. He didn't expect these people to help, but he couldn't let them cause trouble.

Soon it was evening, and Li Pingan first gave two apples and two candies to each of the two families living in the back house. He also said politely that he was going to renovate the house and bring in some materials to bother everyone. Both families were very easy to talk to, and said that they could just let him know if they needed help.

Then he came to the front yard. Yan Bugui's house, saw the apples and candies Li Pingan sent. The third uncle happily took the things and said, "Pingan, now that the decoration is finished, isn't it time to set up a few tables for guests?"

Li Pingan was also surprised by Yan Bugui's thinking. This man never forgot to take advantage.

Li Pingan said, "Forget about treating Third Master, but everyone will have to give gifts when the time comes. If someone is reluctant to give, you can imagine how embarrassing it will be."

When Yan Bugui heard that he was going to give a gift, he immediately said, "That's fine. If you don't want to give, then don't give. Nowadays, we advocate saving."

After delivering gifts to several families in the front yard, they went to the middle yard.

Li Pingan went to Uncle Yi Zhonghai's house first. He saw Yi Zhonghai sitting at the table and Aunt Yi cooking in the kitchen. Li Pingan went up to him and said, "Uncle Yi, I'm going to renovate my house tomorrow and need to bring in some materials. I'm sorry to cause trouble to everyone. Please accept these things as an apology to everyone."

Yi Zhonghai saw what Li Pingan brought up and said expressionlessly, "Pingan, why didn't you discuss such a big thing as renovating the house with a few of us uncles? You want to renovate it tomorrow without any of us agreeing. You are disorganized and undisciplined."

Li Pingan got angry when he heard this. He sent gifts to every family with good intentions, just to listen to Director Wang, and just to save face for everyone. Other families were polite, but you are still giving me a cold shoulder and putting a hat on me.

Li Pingan put the things he handed out back into his net bag and said to Yi Zhonghai, "Uncle, which organization and discipline do you represent? I must have reported to the street office before I could renovate my house. My house is also a private property, I just demolished it, what can you do about it? I'm giving you face by calling you uncle, but you really think you're a piece of cake."

After that, he took out a certificate from the Street Office from his pocket, swung it in his hand and said, "Look carefully, this is a certificate from the Street Office. If you are not convinced, you can go to the Street Office to report me. You are showing off!"

Li Ping'an's words made Yi Zhonghai's face turn blue with anger. He slapped the table and shouted, "I am the eldest uncle in this courtyard. Why can't I ask questions? Do you take us uncles seriously? Besides, I am the elder, and you are talking to the elders. Do you know how to respect the old and love the young?"

The quarrel between the two attracted the lady who was cooking, and several people also gathered outside the door.